FEDERAL COURT RECORDS:Part 02
FEDERAL COURT RECORDS:
A SELECT CATALOG OF
NATIONAL ARCHIVES MICROFILM
PUBLICATIONS
(PART 2)
RECORDS OF DISTRICT COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES
RECORD GROUP
21
The Judiciary Act of 1789, in addition to establishing the Supreme Court of the United States, established a system of district and circuit courts, whose records are contained in Record Group 21. The act divided the United States into 13 districts and established in each a district court and judge. The districts were then grouped into three larger circuits. A circuit court, consisting of a district judge and any two justices of the Supreme Court, was to convene in each district twice a year.
At first, the district courts were courts of original jurisdiction with authority to hear criminal, admiralty, and bankruptcy cases and all suits against consuls or vice consuls. The circuit courts' original jurisdiction extended to actions involving aliens or citizens of different states, and to equity suits where the matter in dispute exceeded $500. The Judiciary Act also provided for appeals from the district to the circuit court.
As the business of the courts increased, Congress authorized two or more districts in some states. In 1838 the northern district of New York became the first district to be split into two divisions.
Growing burdens on the courts changed their duties. In 1891 the newly created circuit courts of appeals took over the appellate jurisdiction of the circuit courts, and the Judiciary Act of 1911 abolished the circuit courts and provided for the transfer of their records and remaining jurisdiction to the district courts.
The cases in these microfilmed records cover a wide span of time and range of subjects. The earliest records, from the Vice Admiralty Court of New York, date from 1701, and the most recent concern naturalization petitions filed in 1974. Other records relate to land grants; criminal, law, prize, and appellate case files; and bankruptcy, habeas corpus, and judgment records.
The catalog descriptions of microfilm publications are grouped under the following headings: "Admiralty and Prize Records," "Bankruptcy Records," "Naturalization Records," "Land Grants and Claims," "Equity Records," "Law and Appellate Records," "Criminal Case Files," "General Records and Minutes," "Civil War," and "Miscellaneous Records." A publication among "General Records and Minutes" may contain cases regarding subjects that could fall under several headings. A few publications are grouped under the heading "Civil War" because they encompass a variety of records--all relating specifically to the war. "Miscellaneous Records" contains three publications that do not belong under any of the other headings. A brief and general discussion about the kinds of records under each heading introduces the microfilm publications grouped under each heading, and the publications are arranged alphabetically by state and thereunder by date. Admiralty and Prize Records
Cases designated "admiralty" concern maritime matters. Since 1789 U.S. district courts have exercised admiralty jurisdiction. Before 1789 state courts of admiralty, which were authorized by the Continental Congress on November 25, 1775, heard maritime cases. Documents in the admiralty case files referred to in this catalog date from 1701 through 1857 and are from both courts of admiralty and federal district courts. Most of the admiralty cases before the U.S. district courts in the pre-1840 period concern actions for damages arising from collision; breach of contract (mainly claims for seamen's wages and materials and supplies furnished); pilotage, towage, and wharfage fees; marine insurance; and bottomry (pledging a ship as security to cover the cost of a voyage). There are also suits concerning prize, ransom, and salvage rights; the smuggling of goods; illegal transportation of slaves; assault and battery; theft of cargo while at sea; embezzlement and fraud; and the illegal transportation of foreign troops and their arms and ammunition by a confiscated U.S. vessel.
Prize law is that part of international admiralty law concerning the capture of enemy property at sea during war. Most of the prize cases in the following publications concern British vessels taken during the War of 1812 by American privateers (privately owned ships in the service of the government). Prize courts determine the legality of the capture and the disposition of the ship and its cargo as lawful prizes. In 1794 the Supreme Court determined in Glass v. the Sloop Betsey (3 Dall. 6) that all the powers of a court of admiralty "both instance and prize" rested in the district courts. Congress specifically sanctioned the prize jurisdiction of the district courts in the prize act of June 26, 1812 (2 Stat. 759), which also regulated the issue of commissions and letters of marque to private, armed U.S. vessels.
The documents reproduced in these microfilm publications include libels, monitions, warrants of arrest, interrogations, depositions, claims of arrest, claims of parties interested in the cargo, various orders of the court, court declarations, sentences of condemnation, court opinions, private and official correspondence, bills of sale for prize property, and letters of marque from President James Madison. Also included are British letters of marque, orders to sail, port of clearances, ship manifests, bills of lading, receipts, correspondence, indentures, bills of health, British licenses, logs, and other papers. The descriptive pamphlet for each publication that contains case files provides a list of the cases.
Admiralty and prize cases also appear on M162, under "Records of the Supreme Court of the United States"; on M969, under "Law and Appellate Records"; and on T717, M1082, and M987 under "General Records and Minutes." Admiralty Case Files of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 1850-1900. M1249. 401 rolls. DP.
The case files in this publication fall into two categories, conventional admiralty cases and habeas corpus cases, most of which arose under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The conventional cases deal with such matters as damages resulting from collisions of vessels, breach of contract, accidents aboard ship, and damage to cargo.
Habeas corpus cases relate to actions to free persons forcibly detained on board ships or in nearby facilities awaiting passage. Some cases concern contract laborers being taken to work in Alaskan canneries or aliens being deported after exhausting their periods of legal residence in the United States. Most, however, involve Chinese laborers turned back at their point of arrival by U.S. Customs authorities under the Chinese Exclusion Act (22 Stat. 58).
Papers from early cases involving Chinese deportation include "Canton Passports" issued by the Chinese government as proof of status as a merchant or student, the two categories of persons permitted to stay in the United States. As part of the case documentation, a photograph of the Chinese individual was submitted. The photograph was left as a separate item or attached to the petition or certified order of remand.
Documentation of admiralty case appeals includes decisions of the courts of appeals and on occasion mandates of the Supreme Court reversing or affirming the circuit court's opinion.
The cases are arranged numerically by case number. Of the more than 20,000 cases in this series, this publication includes cases 1 through 12,279, which cover the period in which the greatest number of Chinese expulsion cases occurred. Documents within each case are arranged for the most part chronologically by the court date. Beginning in the 1870s, the court bound case documents in a judgment roll and dated the entire set of documents by the date of the final judgment. The judgment roll has been filmed first, followed by unbound documents, with exhibits filmed at the end.
These cases contain valuable information on two diverse segments of American society, the maritime industry and the Chinese community. Many of the maritime cases include information on life aboard ship, the types of cargo carried, and the types of ships involved in trade. Maps and navigational aids, diagrams of collisions, and photographs document the changing nature of the coastlines, the tides, and the surrounding land. Habeas corpus cases involving the Chinese document the passage of a people from their homeland to immigrant status in frontier America. The files are valuable for the information they provide on Chinese life both in China and in San Francisco.
The National Archives-Pacific Sierra Region has filmed "Selected Indexes to the Records of the United States District and Circuit Courts of Northern California, 1863-1927," which contains an index to Chinese habeas corpus cases in admiralty, 1882-1906 and an index to admiralty cases, 1867-1921. The film is available only at the regional archives.
Roll Cases
1 1-20
2 21-37
3 38-49
4 50-71
5 72-92
6 93-104
7 105-122
8 122(cont.)-145
9 146-165
10 166-183
11 184-201
12 202-224
13 225-238
14 239-269
15 270-296
16 297-314
17 315-341
18 342-382
19 383-421
20 422-452
21 453-479
22 480-521
23 522-559
24 560-594
25 595-613
26 614-655
27 656-700
28 701-724
29 725-771
30 772-815
31 816-853
32 854-905
33 906-931
34 932-965
35 966-1005
36 1006-1050
37 1051-1086
38 1087-1105
39 1106-1128
40 1129-1167
41 1168-1196
42 1197-1224
43 1225-1255
44 1256-1271
45 1272-1284
46 1285-1304
47 1305-1326
48 1327-1353
49 1354-1373
50 1374-1397
51 1398-1415
52 1416-1434
53 1435-1457
54 1458-1470
55 1471-1490
56 1491-1508
57 1508(cont.)
58 1508(cont.)-1518
59 1518(cont.)
60 1519-1532
61 1533-1546
62 1547-1573
63 1574-1584
64 1585-1612
65 1613-1631
66 1632-1633
67 1634-1653
68 1654-1666
69 1667-1675
70 1675(cont.)-1695
71 1696-1717
72 1718-1727
73 1728-1754
74 1755-1777
75 1778-1800
76 1801-1824
77 1825-1838
78 1839-1851
79 1852-1861
80 1862-1875
81 1876-1898
82 1899-1923
83 1924-1935
84 1936-1946
85 1947-1954
86 1955-1974
87 1975-1994
88 1995-2018
89 2019-2034
90 2035-2053
91 2054-2075
92 2076-2093
93 2094-2110
94 2111-2128
95 2129-2152
96 2153-2169
97 2170-2182
98 2183-2199
99 2200-2222
100 2223-2248
101 2249-2262
102 2263-2270
103 2271-2272
104 2272(cont.)-2280
105 2281-2298
106 2299-2302
107 2302(cont.)-2320
108 2321-2339
109 2340-2356
110 2357-2363
111 2364-2376
112 2377-2387
113 2388-2403
114 2404-2426
115 2427-2436
116 2437-2452
117 2453-2461
118 2462-2475
119 2476-2481
120 2482
121 2482(cont.)-2509
122 2510-2528
123 2529-2548
124 2549-2573
125 2574-2640
126 2641-2680
127 2681-2724
128 2725-2765
129 2766-2805
130 2806-2856
131 2857-2900
132 2901-2944
133 2945-2982
134 2983-3030
135 3031-3085
136 3086-3120
137 3121-3145
138 3146-3197
139 3198-3248
140 3249-3284
141 3285-3297
142 3298-3343
143 3344-3386
144 3387-3428
145 3429-3465
146 3466-3498
147 3499-3551
148 3552-3567
149 3567(cont.)-3585
150 3586-3632
151 3633-3680
152 3681-3728
153 3729-3763
154 3764-3814
155 3815-3855
156 3856-3872
157 3872(cont.)-3877
158 3878-3918
159 3919-3958
160 3959-3975
161 3976-4008
162 4009-4031
163 4032-4076
164 4077-4118
165 4119-4162
166 4163-4205
167 4206-4250
168 4251-4288
169 4289-4330
170 4331-4375
171 4376-4419
172 4420-4451
173 4452-4505
174 4506-4558
175 4559-4611
176 4612-4665
177 4666-4715
178 4715(cont.)-4769
179 4770-4825
180 4826-4888
181 4889-4943
182 4944-4993
183 4994-5048
184 5049-5099
185 5100-5153
186 5154-5209
187 5210-5258
188 5259-5316
189 5317-5369
190 5370-5403
191 5404-5453
192 5454-5503
193 5504-5564
194 5565-5570
195 5571-5628
196 5629-5689
197 5690-5750
198 5751-5812
199 5813-5867
200 5868-5913
201 5914-5973
202 5974-6034
203 6035-6093
204 6094-6153
205 6154-6214
206 6215-6275
207 6276-6333
208 6334-6393
209 6394-6455
210 6456-6500
211 6501-6543
212 6544-6601
213 6602-6658
214 6659-6723
215 6724-6783
216 6784-6842
217 6843-6901
218 6902-6961
219 6962-7018
220 7019-7077
221 7078-7136
222 7137-7194
223 7195-7255
224 7256-7315
225 7316-7374
226 7375-7433
227 7434-7493
228 7494-7553
229 7554-7612
230 7613-7666
231 7667-7722
232 7723-7777
233 7778-7836
234 7837-7895
235 7896-7949
236 7950-8001
237 8002-8060
238 8061-8119
239 8120-8175
240 8176-8232
241 8233-8288
242 8289-8345
243 8246-8409
244 8410-8466
245 8467-8529
246 8530-8590
247 8591-8643
248 8644-8699
249 8700-8753
250 8754-8802
251 8803-8842
252 8843-8887
253 8888-8912
254 8912(cont.)-8962
255 8963-9002
256 9003-9036
257 9037-9055
258 9056-9086
259 9087-9107
260 9108-9120
261 9121-9138
262 9139-9157
263 9158-9167
264 9168-9210
265 9211-9258
266 9259-9303
267 9304-9346
268 9347-9375
269 9376-9411
270 9412-9439
271 9440-9467
272 9468-9499
273 9500-9531
274 9532-9566
275 9567-9600
276 9601-9631
277 9632-9665
278 9666-9700
279 9701-9736
280 9737-9769
281 9770-9814
282 9815-9849
283 9850-9889
284 9890-9927
285 9928-9967
286 9968-9993
287 9994-10,020
288 10,021-10,054
289 10,055-10,092
290 10,093-10,119
291 10,120-10,152
292 10,153-10,184
293 10,185-10,213
294 10,214-10,229
295 10,230-10,237
296 10,238-10,251
297 10,252-10,266
298 10,267-10,273
299 10,274-10,287
300 10,287(cont.)-10,293
301 10,293(cont.)-10,301
302 10,301(cont.)-10,312
303 10,313-10,334
304 10,335-10,361
305 10,362-10,381
306 10,381(cont.)-10,382
307 10,383-10,403
308 10,404-10,423
309 10,424-10,442
310 10,443-10,458
311 10,459-10,472
312 10,473-10,491
313 10,492-10,511
314 10,512-10,529
315 10,530-10,550
316 10,551-10,566
317 10,567-10,582
318 10,583-10,599
319 10,600-10,620
320 10,621-10,638
321 10,639-10,649
322 10,650-10,675
323 10,676-10,689
324 10,690-10,716
325 10,717-10,731
326 10,732-10,745
327 10,746-10,784
328 10,785-10,840
329 10,841-10,859
330 10,860-10,866
331 10,867-10,886
332 10,887-10,911
333 10,912-10,933
334 10,934-10,958
335 10,959-10,985
336 10,986-11,010
337 11,011-11,032
338 11,033-11,058
339 11,059-11,074
340 11,075-11,104
341 11,105-11,111
342 11,112-11,121
343 11,122-11,139
344 11,140-11,166
345 11,167-11,180
346 11,181-11,194
347 11,194(cont.)-11,201
348 11,202-11,212
349 11,213-11,218
350 11,218(cont.)-11,222
351 11,223-11,234
352 11,235-11,252
353 11,253-11,270
354 11,270(cont.)-11,292
355 11,293-11,308
356 11,309-11,325
357 11,326-11,349
358 11,350-11,369
359 11,369 (cont.)-11,383
360 11,384-11,409
361 11,410-11,415
362 11,415(cont.)-11,422
363 11,423-11,448
364 11,449-11,473
365 11,474-11,497
366 11,498-11,501
367 11,502-11,521
368 11,522-11,549
369 11,550-11,576
370 11,577-11,605
371 11,606-11,630
372 11,631-11,664
373 11,665-11,690
374 11,691-11,702
375 11,703-11,729
376 11,730-11,745
377 11,746-11,779
378 11,780-11,798
379 11,799-11,801
380 11,801(cont.)-11,817
381 11,818-11,844
382 11,845
383 11,845(cont.)-11,864
384 11,865-11,895
385 11,896-11,921
386 11,922-11,944
387 11,945-11,975
388 11,976-12,008
389 12,009-12,031
390 12,032-12,059
391 12,060-12,098
392 12,099-12,118
393 12,119-12,144
394 12,145-12,163
395 12,164-12,192
396 12,193-12,210
397 12,211-12,226
398 12,227-12,231
399 12,232-12,238
400 12,239-12,259
401 12,260-12,276
Admiralty Final Record Books of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Key West), 1828-1911. M1360. 19 rolls. DP.
The court in Key West was a major prize court during the Civil War, when it was the only federal court in the South to remain in Union control throughout the war, and again during the Spanish-American War, where its proximity to Cuba and the Caribbean gave it prominence. The prize cases for the period 1861-65 appear in volumes 6, 7, 8, and 9 and those for the period 1899-1900 in volumes 16 and 17.
The final record books consist of copies of documents filed in each case in chronological order from the beginning libel to the final judgment. The cases are normally arranged chronologically by the date the final record was entered. Each volume is indexed by the initial letter of the plaintiff and/or the name of the vessel and/or the name of the defendant. The first three volumes cover the territorial period, from the establishment of the Superior Court for the Southern District in Key West in 1828 to the early months of statehood. Not until the first case in volume 4 do the records refer to the United States district court.
Volumes 1 and 2 carry the title "Cartas" (Spanish for "letters"), though the records are in English. Volume 2 includes a few pages dated 1828-36 documenting presidential appointments of U.S. attorneys and other minute-type entries. The final record entries constitute the majority of the volume and continue those entries from volume 1. Volume 8 contains final record entries with dates that overlap those in volume 7, but the vessels and cases involved are different and separate. The court stopped creating final records in 1911.
Roll Description Dates
1 Vol. 1 "Cartas" May 1828--May 1837
2 Vol. 2 "Cartas" May 1828--Nov. 1841
3 Vol. 3 Nov. 1841--Apr. 1846
4 Vol. 4 Apr. 1847--Mar. 1853
5 Vol. 5 Mar. 1853--June 1857
6 Vol. 6 July 1857--Dec. 1860
7 Vol. 6 (cont.) Jan. 1861--Nov. 1862
8 Vol. 7 Nov. 1862--May 1865
9 Vol. 8 Nov. 1862--Nov. 1864
10 Vol. 9 June 1865--Mar. 1870
11 Vol. 10 Apr. 1870--Jan. 1875
12 Vol. 11 Feb. 1875--Apr. 1880
13 Vol. 12 May 1880--Sept. 1886
14 Vol. 13 Mar. 1886--Feb. 1889
15 Vol. 14 May 1889--June 1894
16 Vol. 15 June 1894--May 1898
17 Vol. 16 Apr. 1898--June 1902
18 Vol. 17 Nov. 1900--Feb. 1905
19 Vol. 18 Nov. 1904--May 1911
Records of the Vice Admiralty Court of the Province of New
York. T842. 1 roll.
The vice admiralty courts exercised jurisdiction over three kinds of cases: (1) ordinary marine cases, most commonly suits for salvage and seamen's wages; (2) prize cases; and (3) cases arising out of breaches of the acts of trade and navigation and other parliamentary measures, such as the Naval Stores Act. Because juries were reluctant to convict their fellow colonists in trade cases, the vice admiralty courts, which functioned without juries, were used by the British to recover the penalties and forfeitures imposed on the colonists by the Navigation Acts.
The records consist mainly of engrossed and rough minutes and case papers, but even these are incomplete. This publication reproduces three volumes of court minutes: Volume 1, 1701-46; Volume 2, 1746-57; and Volume 3, 1758-74. There are no extant minutes from July 9, 1757 to July 6, 1758. It is believed that a volume once existed but was lost. After 1762 only the rough minutes remain. Other records of the vice admiralty court from 1775-83 are in the Public Record Office of Great Britain.
At the beginning of the roll is an introduction written in June 1916 by Charles M. Hough, U.S. district judge for New York, in which he briefly outlines the history of the minute volumes and explains how they came into his possession. Case Papers of the Court of Admiralty of the State of New York, 1784-1788. M948. 1 roll. DP.
This microfilm publication reproduces 59 case papers from suits arising from salvage, 1784-88; violations of customs regulations, 1785-88; claims for seamen's wages, 1784-88; and miscellaneous actions involving maritime contracts. In some of these cases Alexander Hamilton appeared as proctor.
The case files are arranged by category of case and thereunder by date of filing or date of the earliest document. Later documents within a file are arranged by date of filing or date of document. Admiralty Case Files of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1790-1842. M919. 62 rolls. DP.
Most of these admiralty cases concern seizures and forfeitures of vessels and cargoes for violations of customs laws, nonpayment of seamen's wages, physical abuse of seamen, prize and ransom rights, and engaging in the slave trade. The years around 1800 were particularly significant for the court as it considered cases concerning the seizure of vessels during the undeclared hostilities between the United States and France.
This microfilm publication reproduces two sets of case files. Those for cases initiated before August 21, 1828, are arranged chronologically by the name of the vessel involved and include folders entitled "Merchandise," which contain documents arising from suits involving cargoes seized on land or from unknown or unidentified vessels. All case files contain documents that declare the charges, and files for suits involving seized cargoes include lists of cargoes and their value.
For cases from August 21, 1828, through October 25, 1842, files are arranged by numbers assigned in three docket books identified as volumes A-1, A-1A, and A-2. Cases within each docket are numbered respectively 1-434, 1-565, and 1-632. The inclusive dates for this microfilm publication are those of the filing of cases with the court, but some individual documents are dated as late as 1854.
Roll Title
1 Notes
Dockets, 1828--42:
2 (1790) Betsey--(1797) Peryphus
3 (1797) Rebecca--(1799) Mohawk
4 (1799) Nancy--(1801) John
5 (1801) Lavina--(1803) Nine Sisters
6 (1803) Oliver Ellsworth--(1806) Minerva
7 (1806) Ocean--(1808) Julian
8 (1808) Little Ann--(1809) Champlin
9 (1809) Charles--(1809) Susanna
10 (1809) Thomas--(1810) Victory
11 (1811) Abeona--(1811) Mentor
12 (1811) Merchandise--(1811) William Tell
13 (1812) Agenoria--(1812) Charles
14 (1812) Cornelia--(1812) Helicon
15 (1812) Holkar--(1812) Koran
16 (1812) Lady Gallatin--(1812) Mary and Susan
17 (1812) Merchandise--(1812) Ocean
18 (1812) Orbit--(1812) William and Eliza
19 (1813) Ann--(1813) Nancy
20 (1813) Ontario--(1815) Benjamin
21 (1815) Carrier--(1816) Grand Turk
22 (1816) Harpooner--(1816) Little Catharine
23 (1816) Mariann--(1818) General Lincoln
24 (1818) Jack's Favorite--(1820) Esperanza
25 (1820) James Monroe--(1824) Eliza Ann
26 (1824) Maria--(1826) Robert Fulton
27 (1826) Sparrow--(n.d.) Union
Dockets, 1828--33:
28 A-1-1 through A-1-76
29 A-1-77 through A-1-127
30 A-1-128 through A-1-174
31 A-1-175 through A-1-210
32 A-1-211 through A-1-266
33 A-1-267 through A-1-304
34 A-1-305 through A-1-366
35 A-1-367 through A-1-390
36 A-1-391 through A-1-434
Dockets, 1834--39:
37 A-1A-1 through A-1A-50
38 A-1A-51 through A-1A-82
39 A-1A-83 through A-1A-130
40 A-1A-131 through A-1A-170
41 A-1A-171 through A-1A-241
42 A-1A-242 through A-1A-274
43 A-1A-275 through A-1A-313
44 A-1A-314 through A-1A-338
45 A-1A-339 through A-1A-399
46 A-1A-400 through A-1A-476
47 A-1A-477 through A-1A-515
48 A-1A-516 through A-1A-565
Dockets, 1839--42:
49 A-2-1 through A-2-50
50 A-2-51 through A-2-75
51 A-2-76 through A-2-117
52 A-2-118 through A-2-170
53 A-2-171 through A-2-215
54 A-2-216 through A-2-267
55 A-2-268 through A-2-305
56 A-2-306 through A-2-368
57 A-2-369 through A-2-419
58 A-2-420 through A-2-450
59 A-2-451 through A-2-487
60 A-2-488 through A-2-519
61 A-2-520 through A-2-570
62 A-2-571 through A-2-632
Appellate Case Files of the U.S. Circuit Court for the
Southern District of New York, 1793-1845. M855. 8 rolls. DP.
The number and types of documents in the appellate, or error and appeal, case files vary. Usually the case files include certified transcripts or "apostles" of records of the cases in the district court; the transcripts consist of copies of the papers filed and of minute-book entries of the district court's actions in the cases. Copies of additional documents are included in case files involving seizures of ships and cargoes for violation of embargo or evasion of customs duties.
The files, which are arranged alphabetically by surname of appellant or by name of ship, are numbered consecutively. Within each case file the documents are arranged chronologically by date presented to or filed with the circuit court. The date given for each case in the microfilm publication is the year when the case was filed with the court.
Roll Case Title Year
1 1 The Schooner Adeline v. the Armed Brig
Expedition and John B. Gazeaux 1814
2 William Ashley and the Schooner Freeman
Ellis v. United States 1816
3 John Jacob Astor, Owner of the Brig
Caledonia v. United States 1817
4 Benjamin Bailey and the Schooner Lucy v.
United States 1809
5 John Baker, Claimant of the Sloop
Elizabeth v. United States 1809
6 John T. Balch, Bankruptcy 1843
7 Jacob Barker v. United States 1816
8 Jean Basso v. United States 1844
9 Hezekiah Bedell et al., for the Schooner
Experiment v. United States 1810
10 Abraham Bell v. Benjamin Anderson et al. 1830
11 William Bottomley and 13 Cases of Cloth
v. United States 1842
12 Thomas Bowerbank and 6 Cases of Cloth
of the Ship William v. United States 1818
2 13 Jonathan Brewster and the Schooner
Nassau v. United States 1816
14 Alfred Brooks et al., Bankruptcy 1842
15 Richard Bullock et al., and the Ship
John v. United States 1809
16 Walter Burk and the Brig Isabella, alias
Henrietta v. United States 1809
17 William Burtch, Bankruptcy 1845
18 Justin Butterfield v. United States 1831
19 Benon Cain, Bankruptcy 1843
20 Robert M. Calmont v. Susan Lawrence 1842
21 Robert Chapman, Bankruptcy 1842
22 Florye Charretton and Crew of Privateer
Marengo v. Captain John Taylor and 20 Pipes
of Wine From the English Brig Concord 1813
23 Paul Chase, Benjamin Morris, and the Ship
Cotton Planter v. United States 1809
24 Claiborne Chew and the Brig Elisha and Mary
v. Robert Charles 1808
25 Samuel Chollect and Peregrine Bourdieu of the
Island of Dominica v. the Brig William Tell 1793
26 Isaac Clason and the Ship Star v. Lemuel
Taylor et al., of the Privateer Surprise 1815
27 Alexander Coffin, Jr., and the Cargo of the
Schooner Union v. United States 1816
28 Cadwallader R. Colden v. United States 1823
29 James Colles and the Sloop Christiana v.
United States 1816
30 The Officers and Crew of the U.S. Frigate
Constitution, Claimants of the Ship Cyane
v. United States 1815
31 Barney Corse, Bankruptcy 1843
32 George Crosby and the Brig William Gray
v. United States 1810
3 33 In the Matter of the Application of David B.
Day for an Injunction Against Susan A. Day,
Bankruptcy 1844
34 Thomas Doyle and the Sloop Regulator v.
United States 1817
35 Albert H. Dorr, Bankruptcy 1845
36 William Dunlop and the Ship Grand Turk v.
John Carlton 1817
37 Seneca Durand, Bankruptcy 1843
38 Samuel H. Eakin et al. v. United States 1826
39 Harvey Ely v. United States 1833
40 William Falconer v. Edward Clark 1835
41 The Schooner Friendship v. United States 1799
42 Manuel Gonzales and the Schooner Marie, alias
Plattsburgh v. United States and the Officers
and Crew of the Ship of War Cyane 1821
43 Charles W. Gordon and the Sloop Polly and
Jane v. United States 1810
44 James Hagan v. United States 1832
45 William Handy and Articles of Merchandise
from Lower Canada v. United States 1823
46 Joshua Harnden v. John Den et al. 1816
47 Isaac Harvey and Robert Forrest for the Brig
Fair American v. Alexander Murray et al. 1799
48 Joseph Hatch v. Caleb Barstow 1823
49 Jesse Hawley v. John Molson and George Davies 1837
50 William Hazard et al., and 422 Casks of Wine
from the Brig Amphritite v. United States 1821
51 Charles Hecksher v. United States 1833
52 The Schooner Hero v. United States 1816
53 Francis Hill, Owner of the Ship Huron v.
United States 1801
54 William A. Hillyer, Bankruptcy 1842
55 William Hinton v. United States 1827
56 Arthur Hirst v. United States 1825
57 John Hoxsey and the Sloop Julian, alias
Julia Ann v. United States 1810
4 58 James Jackson and George Allen v. Cyrus
Burlingame et al. 1825
59 James Jackson and George Allen v. Isaac
Smith et al. 1826
60 James Jackson, Lydia Henry et al. v.
Joseph Barker 1825
61 James Jackson v. Stephen Waring 1826
62 The Brig Charles, alias Mariana, and
William Lovett, Claimant for Don Joseph
v. United States 1816
63 Peter Kemble, Samuel Gouverneure, William
Clark, and the Brig Lion v. Isaac Sherman 1806
64 Henry King and John Mumford v. United States 1817
65 Henry Kneeland, Bankruptcy 1842
66 Nathaniel Lawrence and William Hill v.
United States 1807
67 Aaron Lazarus and Richmond Whitmarsh v. John B.
Murray, James B. Murray, and the Brig Hannah 1826
68 James W. Lent v. United States 1825
69 Lenox and Maitland and the Cargo of the Ship
Manhair v. United States 1816
70 Manuel Linto and the Cargo of the British Prize
Ship Nereide v. Peter Schenck et al., of the
Privateer Governor Thompkins 1814
71 William Lovett of the Ship Superb, alias
Saint Thomas, alias El Marques De La Romana
v. United States 1810
72 James J. Mapes, Bankruptcy 1843
73 Jacob Mark et al., and 8,900 Ploughshare Molds
for the Ship Euphrates v. United States 1819
5 74 Martin and Gosselin, Claimants of 95 Bales
of Paper v. United States 1819
75 Hugh R. Martin v. United States 1831
76 Ship Mary and Susan, Claimants: John
Richardson, James Webster, John B. Dask,
James Beswick, Edward Lyde, Thomas Brook,
Hubert Van Waggenen, Benjamin Palmer, and
Thomas Irvin v. United States and Charles
Johnson of the Privateer Tickler 1813
77 Thomas McBurney, Bankruptcy 1845
78 Robert McClellin, William Van Ness, and
William Bay v. United States 1824
79 George Meade et al. v. the Brig Catherine 1794
80 Peter Joseph Mirault and Fredrick Roux of the
Schooner Amiable Nancy v. Peter H. Schenck
and Martin W. Brett of the Brig Scourge 1817
81 Andrew Mitchell v. Robert Lenox et al.,
Executors for John Taylor and John Day 1839
82 Thomas Mitchell, an Insolvent v.
Joseph Hurlbut 1838
83 Elisha Morril v. Benjamin Glifford, S.P. Allen,
Jabez Bullock, Daniel Allen, and Richmond
Bullock of the Brig Providence 1803
84 John Mortimer and John Samuel Hunt v.
United States 1843
85 John P. Mumford et al., and the Ship Uncle Toby
v. Henry Martin, John Royce and Peter Bowen 1801
86 John R. Murray and the Brig Harvey-Hide v.
United States 1815
87 Joseph Naylor, Bankruptcy 1843
88 Francis H. Nicole v. United States 1825
89 Andrew Ogden and the Ship Koran v.
United States 1816
90 The Sloop Orbit v. United States 1816
6 91 Archippus Parish and the Ship Suffolk v.
United States 1813
92 Samuel Parker, Bankruptcy 1843
93 Leonard Paulson, Bankruptcy 1842
94 In the Matter of John Pemberton, Debtor 1837
95 Don Diego Pintado v. Jean Antoine Berard
and the Ship San Joseph, alias La Princesa
De Las Asturias 1796
96 Augustus Porter v. James Jackson ex dem.,
John and Susannah Sparkman 1825
97 Peter B. Porter v. United States 1831
98 Elijah F. Prentiss, Bankruptcy v.
James MacGunder 1842
99 Edward Price and the Schooner Regulator v.
United States 1809
100 John M. Quackenbos, Bankruptcy 1842
101 In the Matter of the Petition of
William Renwick 1833
102 Moses Richardson of the Brig Mount Vernon
v. United States and Stephen Decatur,
Commander of the Ship Chesapeake 1809
103 Jacque Rouge, Owner of the Schooner La
Vengeance, and Jean Antoine Bernard De
Rozier, French Consul in New York v.
United States 1796
104 John Russell and James T. Tallman v.
United States 1814
105 John W. Russell and Gilbert Russell v.
United States 1814
106 John W. Russell and the Brig William King,
alias Havana v. United States 1815
107 Peter H. Schenck and Martin W. Brett for
the Owners and Officers of the Armed Brig
Scourge v. the Brig 1816
108 In the Matter of the Petition of John S.
Schermerhorn 1835
109 John Scott and Robert F. Slack v.
United States 1835
110 Don Juan Sloughton v. Daniel Ulley et al., as
Captors of the Ship Polacre Divina Pastora 1818
111 James Smith v. United States 1807
112 Waters Smith and The Brig Elizabeth v.
United States 1814
113 Solomon Southwick, Postmaster of Albany, With
Spencer Stafford and John V. N. Gates v.
Postmaster General of the United States 1824
7 114 Spencer Stafford et al. v. United States 1834
115 In the Matter of John W. Strong, Bankruptcy 1842
116 Zaccheus Swain, Thomas Delano, and the Ship
Nancy v. Charles Morris and Hugh G. Campbell
of the Brig Eagle and Josias M. Speake
for the Brig Richmond 1799
117 Samuel Swartwout v. William H. Tracy and
John and John B. Balistier 1833
118 Hugh Thomson, Robert Oliver, and the Ship
Dolphin v. Daniel Penfield and John Thomson 1800
119 John Tibby et al., and 54 Tons of Plaster
of Paris From the Sloop Mary Ann v. United
States 1816
120 United States v. the Cargo of the Ship
Ann Williams 1817
121 United States v. William Vintroux Hersan
and the Cargo of the Ship Ann Williams 1817
122 United States v. John Baker and the Sloop
Elizabeth 1810
123 United States v. Abraham Barker 1817
124 United States v. Robert Bowne 1817
125 United States v. Richard Delafield 1842
126 United States v. Samuel C. Jacques and
Frazier Ayres 1834
8 127 United States v. 651 Chests of Tea From
William Lippincott and Company 1826
128 United States v. John Troup and the Cargo of
the Ship New York 1816
129 United States v. David Remson and James
Adams of the Brig Rambler 1814
130 United States v. William Rathbone, Joseph
White et al. 1823
131 United States v. Edward Sarchet and Albert
Woodhull 1836
132 United States v. Joel Stone and Samuel
Bartlett Stone 1841
133 United States and the Officers and Crew of
the Sloop of War Peacock v. 5 Chests of Opium
and 320 Ounces of Gold From the Ship Union 1816
134 United States v. Robert Cumming and the Ship
Young Ralph 1802
135 Lawrence Van Kleeck, Benjamin Knower, and
William Fowler v. United States 1829
136 Wheelright and Johnson, of the Ship Robert
Fulton v. Francis H. Nicoll et al. 1826
137 George Whitaker, Bankruptcy 1842
138 Fredrick White and Solomon White v. United
States 1834
139 Solomon White and Dexter Hungerford v.
United States 1834
140 John Willard, Thomas P. Baldwin, and Seth C.
Baldwin v. United States 1825
141 James Gregg Wilson, Bankruptcy 1843
142 John Wilson and Lewis Joseph v. the
Ship Mary 1820
143 Samuel R. Wood v. United States 1839
144 John Yellowley and the Schooner Enterprise
v. United States 1809
145 Mary Young v. Samuel Peck 1842
Prize and Related Records for the War of 1812 of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1812-1816. M928. 9 rolls. DP.
The records reproduced in this microfilm publication are arranged in three series. The principal series, case files of 1812-16, includes libels, summonses, court orders, licenses, correspondence, and related papers reflecting the progress of prize cases through the court.
The second series, privateers' papers of 1812-16, consists mainly of letters of attorney and letters of last will and testament, and "prize tickets" or certificates indicating the number of shares of prize money to which the holder was entitled. The privateer vessels concerned are the Benjamin Franklin, the Bunker Hill, the Chasseur, the Favorite, the General Armstrong, the Hornet, the Saratoga, and the Teazer. The documents are arranged alphabetically by name of the privateer vessel and thereunder by date of filing or date of the document.
The third series, papers relating to the U.S. frigate Essex, 1812-16, consists of letters of attorney and certificates referring to the distribution of shares of prize monies. The documents are arranged chronologically.
Roll Description
1 Adeline-Caroline
2 Charles-Eclipse
3 Economy-Jesse
4 Jonathan-Mary Ann
5 Mary and Susan-Neptune
6 Nereid-Prudence
7 Quebec-Susannah
8 Three Brothers-Young Tamer
9 Privateers' papers, 1812-16
Papers relating to the U.S. frigate Essex, 1812-16
Admiralty Case Files of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1789-1840. M988. 18 rolls. DP.
These case files are arranged chronologically by year of filing and thereunder alphabetically by the name of the first plaintiff. The documents within the files are arranged mainly by date of filing or by date of the document. The types and content of the documents in the case files are generally those listed in the introduction to the admiralty section.
Roll Description
1 1789-92 (A-J)
2 1792 (L-W)-1795
3 1796-98 (A-G)
4 1798 (H-W)-1800 (A and B)
5 1800 (B cont.-W)-1802 (B-F)
6 1802 (F cont.-Y)-1804 (A-R)
7 1804 (S-W)-1806
8 1807-9
9 1810-12 (A-C)
10 1812 (D-W)-1815 (A-J)
11 1815 (M-W)-1819 (B)
12 1819 (C-W)-1821
13 1822-25
14 1826-30
15 1831-34 (B-D)
16 1834 (F-W)-1837 (A-E)
17 1837 (F-Y)-1838 (A-P)
18 1838 (R-Z)-1840
War of 1812 Prize Case Files of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1812-1815. M966. 2 rolls. DP.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania heard 38 prize cases during the War of 1812. The first case was docketed on July 28, 1812, and the last case on September 7, 1815. On April 20, 1820, the last case settled, that of the sloop Enterprise (No. 27), was closed.
Most documents within the files are arranged by date of filing or date of document. Numbered sets of exhibits are found at the front of many files. Some of the documents are written in Spanish or Portuguese. Undated or unidentified documents are last. Copies of court proceedings sent from Drontheim, Norway, are found in the files of cases that involved the American ships Rattlesnake and Scourge. These two vessels captured several British ships as prizes and took them to Norway, a country of amity, where evidence was taken and sent to Pennsylvania for determination and sentence. The court copies from Norway follow the libels filed with the Pennsylvania district court in the files of cases involving the Rattlesnake and the Scourge.
Roll Case Title Year
1 1 John Murphy et al. (Globe) v. Boyd et al. 1812
2 John Hayard et al. (Paul Jones) v.
Mary Ann et al. 1812
3 Alexander Lucet et al. (Governor McKean)
v. Prince Adolphus et al. 1812
4 The U.S. Sloop of War Hornet et al. v.
John et al. 1812
5 The United States for the use of the Argus
et al. v. Ariadne et al. 1812
6 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Atlas) v.
Pursuit et al. 1812
7 Jaques Bedois et al. (Marengo) v. St. Antonio
et al. 1812
8 The U.S. Frigate Constitution et al. v. South
Carolina et al. 1812
9 William Shaw et al. (Revenge) v. Lorrain
et al. 1812
10 The United States for James Lawrence,
Commander, et al. (Hornet) v. Ellen et al. 1813
11 Owners, David Maffet (Maffitt), et al.
(Rattlesnake) v. Flame et al. 1814
2 12 Samuel Hawley et al. (Young Wasp) v.
Sisters et al. 1814
13 Samuel Hawley et al. (Young Wasp) v. James
et al. 1814
14 William Guier, Thomas Diehl, et al. (Ellen)
v. Enterprise et al. 1814
15 n.n. Coleman et al. (Perry) v. Polly et al. 1814
16 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Betsy et al. 1814
17 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Harford et al. 1814
18 Samuel Hawley et al. (Young Wasp) v. Hope
et al. 1814
19 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Thetis et al. 1814
20 Samuel Nichole et al. (Scourge) and David
Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake) v.
Britannia et al. 1814
21 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Perseverance et al. 1814
22 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Friends Adventure et al. 1814
23 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Jolly Bachelor et al. 1814
24 Samuel Nichole et al. (Scourge) and David
Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake) v.
Westmoreland et al. 1814
25 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Latona et al. 1814
26 The U.S. Squadron on Lake Erie, Arthur St.
Clair, Commander, et al. v. Perseverance
et al. 1814
27 Ezekiel Carman et al. (Jonquilly) v.
Enterprise et al. 1814
28 Alexander Adams et al. (Amelia) v. Mary
Whittle et al. 1815
29 Alexander Adams et al. (Amelia) v. Carolina
and Susanna et al. 1815
30 Samuel Hawley et al. (Young Wasp) v. Margaret
et al. 1815
31 Thomas Reilly et al. (Hope) v. Hannah & Emma
et al. 1814
32 Samuel Nichole et al. (Scourge) v. Hope
et al. 1815
33 Samuel Hawley et al. (Young Wasp) v. Plutus
et al. 1815
34 The U.S. Squadron on Lake Erie, Arthur St.
Clair, Commander, et al. v. Mink et al. 1815
35 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Ann Elizabeth et al. 1815
36 Samuel Hawley et al. (Young Wasp) v. Lady
of the Bason et al. 1815
37 John Coleman et al. (Perry) v. John et al. 1815
38 David Maffet (Maffitt) et al. (Rattlesnake)
v. Pax et al. 1815
Pre-Federal Admiralty Court Records, Province and State of South Carolina, 1716-1789. M1180. 3 rolls. DP.
This microfilm publication reproduces four volumes of minute books of the British Vice Admiralty Court for the Province of South Carolina, 1716-63, and a final record book of the Court of Admiralty for the State of South Carolina under the Articles of Confederation, 1787-89.
The vice admiralty court's jurisdiction covered ordinary marine cases (usually suits for salvage and seamen's wages), prize cases, and cases arising out of breaches of trade and navigation acts. The four volumes of minute books, which are arranged chronologically, are the only records that have survived from the court. The minute books for 1731-35 and 1750-51 have not been located, and no records exist for the colonial period past 1763. Volume 3 has a partial table of contents covering May 1736-November 1738. Volume 4 has a table of contents at the beginning covering September 1752-December 1757, and another table of contents on page 351 for January 1758-May 1763. The volume numbers of the British vice admiralty minute books were assigned by the National Archives staff.
The final record book for the Court of Admiralty for the State of South Carolina, 1787-89, has a table of contents at the beginning of the volume. The case records, which are arranged chronologically by the date each case closed, constitute a final record of each case appearing before the court and include copies of libels, claims, and answers; other pleadings; exhibits; and orders and decrees of the court. The final record book is contained in a volume that also has admiralty records of the federal district court for South Carolina, 1790-95, which appear on M1182.
Roll Description Dates
1 British vice admiralty minute books
Vol. 1 Nov. 1716-Nov. 1718
Vol. 2 Nov. 1718-Jan. 1730
2 Vol. 3 May 1736-July 1749
3 Vol. 4 Sept. 1752-May 1763
Final record book of
the Court of Admiralty
for the State of
South Carolina Feb. 1787-June 1789
Admiralty Final Record Books and Minutes for the U.S.
District Court, District of South Carolina, 1790-1857. M1182.
4 rolls. DP.
This microfilm publication consists of three volumes of final record books, dated 1790-95, 1795-1800, and 1799-1800, and five volumes of admiralty minute books (called journals by the court) dated 1796-1806, 1806-14, 1819-26, 1826-42, and 1843-57. No other admiralty final record books for South Carolina have been located. The final record books are arranged in chronological order by the date each case closed. The first volume includes admiralty records for the state of South Carolina, 1787-98, which have been filmed on M1180. Each of the first two volumes has a table of contents of cases. Volume 1 also has a partial list of decrees, arranged alphabetically by surname of the defendant, each entry listing the defendant, the plaintiff, the nature of the case, and the date of the final decree. The records of a case may include copies of libels, claims, and answers; other pleadings; exhibits; and orders and decrees of the court.
The volumes of admiralty minute records are arranged by date of court session. The second volume, 1806-14, has two indexes, alphabetical by initial letter of surname, for both plaintiffs and defendants that cover part of the volume. The third volume has a list of the judges who served the South Carolina admiralty courts from 1716 to 1823, with their dates of appointment. The fourth volume has a similar list for 1716-1839. The index in volume 5, 1843-57, list both defendants and the names of those applying for citizenship alphabetically by initial letter of surname. No minutes have been located for March 1814-July 1819.
Roll Description Dates
Admiralty final record books:
1 Vol. 1 1790-95
Vol. 2 1795-1800
Vol. 3 1799-1800
Admiralty minute books:
2 Vol. 1 1796-1806
Vol. 2 1806-14
3 Vol. 3 1819-26
Vol. 4 1826-42
4 Vol. 5 1843-57
Admiralty Case Files of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1801-1861. M1300. 18 rolls. DP.
Most of the admiralty cases heard by the district court at Norfolk concerned actions in five main categories: collision; breach of contract for services or goods; pilotage, towage, and wharfage fees; bottomry; and marine insurance. Among the many types of documents found in the case files are libels, monitions, depositions, opinions of the court, crew lists, and appraisers' reports.
The case files are arranged chronologically by year of filing and thereunder alphabetically by the surname of the plaintiff. Documents within these files are arranged mainly by date of filing or the date of the document.
Three volumes of minute books kept by the court have been filmed to serve as an index to the case files. They cover the years 1801-5, 1811-19, and 1819-50. Because the minute books do not cover the entire period, the National Archives Mid Atlantic Region has created a complete index to the case files. The index appears in the descriptive pamphlet and on the first roll of the microfilm publication. The spelling of names of parties in the index has been determined from the documents in the files.
Roll Title
1 Minute books, 1801-5, 1811-19, and 1819-50
2 (1801) Brooks v. Schooner Rebecca - (1803) Watson et al.
v. Brig Venus
3 (1804) Esdra & Donner v. Ship Mozelle and Brig Josephine
- (1805) Willoughby v. Brig Mary Louisa
4 (1806) Garrau v. Brig Catherine - (1808) U.S. v. Sloop
Maria
5 (1809) Deillvin et al. v. Ship Agnus - (1811) U.S. v.
Schooner Union
6 (1812) Browns et al. v. Schooner Mary Ann - (1813) Vial
et al. v. Brig Edward
7 (1814) Manville v. Brig Venus - (1817) U.S. v.
Twenty-one Barrels of Sugar (Schooner Mary Ann)
8 (1818) Don Pablo Chacon v. The Polacre Brig La Cruz De
Mayo - (1819) John White v. Schooner Louisa
9 (1820) Maurice et al. v. Sloop Sally - (1822) U.S. v.
Schooner Union
10 (1823) U.S. v. Schooner Ann - (1824) U.S. v.
Twenty-three Boxes of Wine
11 (1825) U.S. v. A Part of Two Hogsheads of Rum - (1842)
Mitchell v. Sloop Thomas Hayward
12 (1844) Dozier v. Schooner Margaret - (1846) U.S. v.
Thirteen Cases of Gin (Schooner Sidney)
13 (1847) Battersby v. Barque Caledonia - (1853) U.S. v.
Eighteen Cases of Gin (Schooner Golden Gate)
14 (1853) U.S. v. Schooner Rachel P. Brown - (1854) Webb
and Mitchell v. Schooner Caroline Hall
15 (1855) B. & J. Baker v. Barque William Chase - (1856)
Wilson v. Barque Isaiah Fowler
16 (1857) Cobb et al. v. Schooner Pawnee - (1858) Young &
McLean v. Ship Splendid
17 (1859) Anderson et al. v. Schooner Southerner - (1860)
Merryman et al. v. Steamer Yorktow
18 (1860) Odean v. Ship Luna - (1861) Jameson et al. v.
Barque Ida
National Archives Trust Fund Board
National Archives and Records Administration
Washington, DC
1987